WHEN THE CHURCH WAS AFRAID—AND GRACE STEPPED IN
The early church had every reason to keep Paul at arm’s length. This was not paranoia; it was memory. He had hunted believers, dragged men and women off to prison, and approved of Stephen’s death. When he suddenly claimed to follow Jesus, the disciples were afraid, and understandably so. The Bible tells us they did not believe he was truly a disciple (Acts 9:26). From a human standpoint, exclusion made sense. Self-protection felt wise. Distance felt holy.
That fear sounds uncomfortably familiar. We live in a time when people are sorted quickly—by background, by beliefs, by how they vote, by where they come from. Immigrants are often viewed with suspicion; those who think differently are treated as threats; political labels become moral verdicts. We justify our distance by calling it discernment. We baptize our fear with caution. But the church in Jerusalem reminds us that fear can live even where faith is sincere.
Into that tense moment stepped Barnabas. His name means “son of encouragement,” and he lived up to it. Barnabas took Paul by the hand and brought him to the apostles. He told them the story they had not heard yet—how Paul had seen the Lord, how Jesus had spoken to him, how he had boldly preached in the name of Christ (Acts 9:27). Barnabas did not deny Paul’s past; he testified to God’s grace. He became a bridge when the church was tempted to build a wall.
Barnabas shows us what peacemaking looks like in real life. He listened before judging. He risked his own reputation to stand beside someone others feared. He believed that the Gospel could truly change a man. In doing so, he reflected the heart of Jesus, who welcomes enemies and turns persecutors into preachers. Without Barnabas, the church might have missed one of God’s greatest servants. Fear would have robbed them of a brother.
The lesson presses on us today. The church must be careful not to confuse caution with exclusion, or faithfulness with fear. Christ welcomed us when we were strangers and enemies, reconciling us to God through His cross (Romans 5:10). If grace brought us in, grace must shape how we receive others. The question is not whether people make us uncomfortable; the question is whether we trust the transforming power of Jesus enough to let Barnabas-like love lead the way.
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Lord Jesus, free Your church from fear that masquerades as wisdom. Give us the courage of Barnabas, hearts quick to believe in Your grace, and hands willing to welcome those You are calling. Teach us to be peacemakers in a divided world. Amen.
BDD
